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- Aug. 4, 1931. 2. R. MAUL$BY E'I'AL 18,145

' FABRIC- Fommu; ucimui Original Filed Sept. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OR w grim/war -ZEN RM v ATTORNEY Reiuued Aug. 4, 1931 um'rao srA'ras 'fR e. 18,146-

PATENT oFFlca m wm 'REISSUED Original Io. amass, time October as, was, semi no. ma September 24, 1025. Application m reissue fled February 24,1930. Serial Io. 481,088.

This invention relates to improvements in forming machines, and more particularly to machines for forming fabric into decorative designs; it being the principal object of the i invention to provide a machine for crimping or shaping fine fabrics into designs suitable for decorative purposes such as for the lining "of caskets and the like. More specifically stated, the object of the 10 invention resides in the provision of a machine for the above stated pur ose embodying a horizontal frame on whic the members over which the cloth is formed may be arranged and a series of rods adapted to be dis- 15 posed over the cloth to crimp it about the forms while it is tacked to a suitable backing which retains it in its given shape after being) removed from the machine.

ther objects reside in the various details so of construction and combination of parts embodied in the invention and in their mode of operation as will hereinafter be described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, we have provided the im- 2 proved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cloth forming machine embodied by the present so invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same. Figure 3 is an enlar ed pers ective view of a bar and some of the orming locks thereon. Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental section 85 longitudinally of the machine.- 1

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental section transversely of the same.

Figure 6 is a partial plan view showing forming blocks 0 different design. 0 Figure 7 is a detail view of an alternative of blockand fastener.

ty e

Figure 8 is a perspective'view of an alternative construction. 7 Referring more in detail to the several 46 views of the drawings- Y 1 designates a rectangular frame or table supported at a suitable. working height by legs 2 placed at its four corners. The frame comprises the longitudinal; op ite side rails 60 33 and the opposite end rai s 4-4, one of .of each block and these plates the latter having an upstanding flan e 5 pro-- vided along the outer edge against w oh the ends of bars 6 supported on theframe may be I alined.

' The bars 6 are arranged in parallel relation on the frame and maybe ad usted from and, toward each other. It is preferred that the ends of all the bars bejoined by the lazy tong mechanism as ,at 7 so that when adjustment of the bars from or toward each other is made an equal spacing between the several bars will ,be automatically maintained.

' The bars 6 preferably would be flat iron pieces placed on edge and rovided at their ends with cross pieces8 whereby the ment of the bars together is limited.

Slidably mounted on each of the bars 6 are the forming blocks 10, each of which is provided with a downwardly opening slot 11 which receives its supportlng bar and which 7 permits the blocks to be adjusted from or toward each other. The blocks may be made in various shapes such as round, square, or oblong. They may also be made to represent characteristic designs, as shown in Figure 6,75 which shows a clever leaf, diamond and circular forms.

.In order to limit the distance of spacing of the blocks apart on each bar, we have fixed plates 14 to the under side at one edge extend beneath an adjacent block and have upturned hooks 15 at their ends adapted to engage with the ends of slots 16 in the under sides of the blocks, as shown in Figure 3. I v v The plates 14 are adjustably fastened to through slots 18 in the vides for ad'usting the the spacing istance.

To limit the distance of movement of the blocks toward each other, heel plates 21 are fixed to the edges of the blocks opposite the edges to which plates 14 are fixed and these are adapted to engage the edges of adjacent blocks. Y

On the upper surface of each of the and blocks, and on the intermediate blocks if desired, there is provided a plurality ofholes 19 in which short upwardly the blocks by means of set screws 17 extended plates and this pmplates so as to vary move- 65 directed pins20 a j i be removably -moved apart to a desired inserted to serve as a meansformainingtheclothinplacewhen it is placed over the blocks for forming.

In using the device, the bars 6 are'first sgcing and the blocks are spread apart on e several bars and the pins iare placed in theend blocks.

and others at places desired. The piece of cloth which is to be formed, as designated at in Fi 4 and 5, is laced over the forming locks and is p down over the pins so that it will be held thereby. Rods 26 are then placed ly of the frame between each row of blocks and f other rods 27 are placed transversely thereof between the alined blocks of the se'v- -eralrows. Thebarsfiarethenmovedtoward each other to the distance provided for and the blocks are closed together on the bars so that the cloth is crimped downwardly between each bar and also between each transversely alined row of blocks.

After this is done, 30, as a backing, is 7 it is tacked by stitc ing to the formed fabric. The rods 26 and 27 are then withdrawn and the sha cloth removed.

If it is desired, snap fasteners such as indicated in Figure '7, may be used to attach the formed pieceof material to the backing, or paste may be used for certain work.

It is quite apparent that when the cloth or fabric is drawn down about the forming blocks, it will assume the definite shapes of the upper end portions of the blocks, which in this instance serve in the nature of molds. Then when theclothis fastened to the backing and'removed from the blocks, it retains the pulls in the definite and distinct shapes of the mold blocks. The present device is distinguished from other machines now generallv in in that it. provides for making 7 definite shapes, or forms; whereas, the other Figure 8, we have'fs machines are simply for crinkling or shirring the cloth, and like, United States Pat'- ent No. 1,042,715, issued on October 29,;1912, to A. F. Mrock, do not give the fabncany definite or distinct design.

In an alternativ construction shown in attached to the frame 1 to swing upward from and downwardly over the forming blocks.

This frame 40 has side rails provided with as acter described, a frame, a bed of fabric Shap-' holes 41 for receiving the cross rods 27 so;

that they may be cloth between the forming frame could be operated by a foot pedal45 connected operatively to the frame by suitable as indicated at 46.

Having thusdescribed our invention, what weclaim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patenfl is:

1. In a fabric forming machine of the charmoved bodily against the movable from and toward each other, lengthwise and transversel of the frame and therewith for dra upon the cloth longitudinalvto and means or drawing downward and against all sides of the b ocks V a piece of heavy fabric laced over the frame and allel relation in the frame toward each other a plurality of fabric shaptheir s acing from wnaframemhingedly P blocks. This ing mounted in the frame and both over which a fabmeans associated the said fabric piece about all sides ofsai sha ing elements ex cept their mounting their being moved together, thereby the fabric to conform to the shape elements. a Y f 2. In a machine of the character despaced from each other, an ric piece may he 5 read to cause of the incident to scribed, a plurality of fabric shaping blocks in' characteristic shapes or des' ed for movement from and towa each other, and over which a fabric piece may be ap lied,

means on the 'blocksfor holdin the abric; Y

ative therepiecein place a ainstsli pa e P his fabric iece except their mounting surfaces so as to shape it in accordance with the definite shapes of the blocks.-

3. A'fabric formirig machine, com ajframe, a plur in parbars suppo or ad ustment mounting elements slida le on each of the said bars efinite shapes rresponding to the shapes of the elements.

horizontal frame structure, a plurality of bars mounted on the frame structure, lazy tong mechanism joining the ends of the bars toretain them m parallel relation during adjustment from and toward each other, a plurality of forming blocks mounted slidabl on each of'the bars, ha slots in their nuclei-sides, a plate fixed to e under side of each block and extended-beneath the vadjacent block and there provided with an upturned portion projecting into the slot of the block as a means of limitin the extent of each' 0t er and rods adapte -to be laced ress it about t e forming blocks.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, day 'of May, 1930. a i

a 'ZENE R. MAULSBY. a JOHN R. MAULSBY. 

